About

Palanan is one of many barangays or local communities situated in Makati City. What makes this area interesting is that it is located between various places of interest within the Manila and Pasay City areas. This includes many tourist attractions, parks, and urban centers, as well as nightlife spots. And because of its location, it gives travelers easy access to and from numerous cities.

At a Glance

Palanan is one of the 7 barangays composing Makati’s Westside cluster. Because of Palanan’s barangay status, the surrounding area is a mixture of residential and commercial properties. Apart from the houses that are built right next to each other, there are dozens of basketball courts and day care centers scattered around the area. Additionally, schools (both public and private) can also be seen along the roads. The biggest landmark in Palanan, however, would be the Cash & Carry Mall at Filmore Street.

How to Go

By land transportation

Since the city of Makati has neither an air nor sea port, getting to Palanan by land is the only option you have. The quickest way to get to Palanan from Manila is to take a taxi, Grab, or Uber. You can also take the Philippine National Railway (PNR) or Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) to Palanan. If you chose the former option, ride the PNR all the way to Buendia station and from there, you can walk straight to Palanan. On the other hand, you can ride the LRT 1 from any station in Manila to Gil Puyat and then walk from there.

Getting Around

Palanan is relatively small. Thus, walking around the barangay is easy. You can also ride a jeep to move throughout Makati’s network of narrow streets and roads. Buses and FXs are also good alternatives, as they pass directly through Palanan.

Tourist Attractions

Palanan itself doesn’t have a lot of tourist attractions, but its surrounding areas do. In nearby Manila, there is the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, as well as the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Both destinations are easy to get to from Palanan, given its location at the edge of Makati. But if you are looking for a place around Makati, the Ayala Triangle Gardens and Ayala Museum are just a taxi ride away. Makati also has numerous statues of national heroes erected along the city’s roads – prominent among these are the statues along Ayala Avenue.

Top Things to Do

One of the easiest activities you can do while in Palanan is shopping. Makati and Manila are nearby, and there is no doubt that these cities are riddled with malls and other commercial areas. Each type of mall caters to a specific consumer, so the prices of their items and the variety of their stalls differ. If you are looking for consumer-friendly prices, go to malls like SM City Manila, SM Makati, or The Landmark. For high-end items, visit malls such as Century City Malls, Greenbelt, or SM Mall of Asia. If you want to stay within Palanan’s boundary, there is the Cash & Carry along Filmore St. if you wish to get groceries nearby. There is also the Legazpi Sunday Market on Herrera St. cor. Legazpi and Salcedo V.A Rufino. Open every Sunday, this market offers visitors an international atmosphere within a small parking lot. You can eat dishes coming from Indonesia, France, Germany, and the Philippines, as well as shop for items and trinkets to bring home.

If you plan to workout somewhere besides the gym, you can run around the Ayala Triangle Gardens and Washington Sycip Park. And finally, you can go museum hopping and see the art that fills the halls in the National Museum in Manila, as well as the Yuchengco Museum and Ayala Museum in Makati.

Where to Eat

The types of restaurants in and near Palanan are what you’d expect. There are numerous chains of fast food establishments, cafés, and restaurants that offer both international and local meals. If you are looking for the specific tangs of the Philippines, you can try Pat Pat’s Kansi and taste their Kansi (a cross between beef bone marrow soup and sour pork soup). You can also savor the sizzling sensations of the Volcanic Grill right around the barangay.

Nightlife

There are tons of late night establishments located close by Palanan. Heading to Makati Ave. or P Burgos St. alone introduces you to a plethora of bars, clubs, and live shows. There are venues like the Buddha Bar, Lockhard Road Wanchai, and Billboard Bar, which are known for their late night entertainment. However, there are places that do offer a tamer nightlife atmosphere. BAGA Manila, which is right next to Buddha Bar, opens its tents every night. There are live band performances, flowing booze, and stalls that cook up Filipino favorites. There are 2 big rules to follow when you are in BAGA Manila: 1) no outside drinks and 2) sharing a table is a must.

Where to Stay

Travelers won’t have a problem finding a place in Palanan. Since Palanan is technically still in Makati, there are numerous hotels that cater to visitors with varying budgets. For the traveler on a budget, there’s the Alejandra hotel on Zobel Roxas Street, the My Dian Suites on Diane St., and Transient @ La Verti Residence in Pasay City. There are also well-established hotels such as Herald Suites and Sommerset Millenium Makati, which are within Palanan’s proximity.

Travel Tips

Do not travel around Palanan during the evening. If you must, don’t walk to your destination. Instead, ride a taxi, Grab, or Uber. It’s better to stay safe by getting a ride than walking at this time.

Going somewhere outside the area of Palanan or Makati? Make it a habit to leave early because the streets of Makati are usually heavy with traffic. This is especially true when rush hour begins at around 5:00 PM.

If you are staying in Palanan for a long while, take some time to visit the nearby cities. Palanan is a great jumping-off point for your next big city adventure.